Written Answers Nos 222-238
222. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the emergency works application by a school (details supplied) will be examined; if a decision will be expedited on this application in view of the urgent nature of the works required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12155/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn emergency works application was recently received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application will be considered as quickly as possible and the school authority will be informed of the outcome.
223. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 176 of 20 February 2018, if all overpayments have been written off. [12166/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSUSI operates a comprehensive set of processes and controls to manage the assessment process and to minimise the risk of incorrectly awarding grants. However, the nature of the assessment process undertaken by SUSI means that there is a risk that some students may be awarded maintenance grants and/or fee grants for which they are not eligible.
Where overpayments do occur, SUSI treats the overpayment as a debt to the Exchequer and seeks to ensure that all such payments are recovered from the student. This approach is consistent with the general policy and principle regarding the recovery of debt, as set out in the Student Support Act 2011.
When an overpayment is identified, SUSI will write to the student to inform him/her of the decision to vary the grant amount and to advise that recovery (repayment) of the overpayment will be necessary. A further letter will then issue to formally advise of the overpayment amount and to request repayment. This letter includes a Grant Repayment Option Form which requests details of the preferred repayment option.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Applicants may also appeal against decisions made by SUSI in relation to overpayments.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe. Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.
224. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a fire outbreak in a school (details supplied) in March 2018; if additional resources to ensure that this work is expedited and completed as soon as possible will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12178/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra226. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of contracted staff working on the fire safety upgrades for a school (details supplied) from September 2017 by month; the number of hours worked per week per contractor; and if those contracted staff were working on other schools during that period, in tabular form. [12204/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 226 together.
My Department was made aware of the fire by the school when the school reopened after the snow storm. My Department authorised the school to engage a professional cleaning service to alleviate any after effects from the fire and arranged for a representative from the fire safety firm which carried out the initial fire risk assessment and which has assisted in developing the scope of works currently underway in the school to visit the school and provide a professional opinion on the condition of the building.
The detailed information on the Contractors staff working in the school is not information which is held by the Department. The main difficulty in carrying out the improvement works in the school has been that the school is fully occupied and the contractors are restricted to carrying out the improvement works on a single room by room basis. A room is vacated, works are carried out which involve fully stripping the room, upgrading the fire retardation provisions and, following reinstatement of the room, the room is again occupied thereby vacating the next room to be worked upon. The Department, through its project managers, have in the past two weeks been engaged with the contractor carrying out the works to seek to improve the timeframe for the completion of the works. However, the restrictions arising from working in a live and operational school environment continue to be the main factor influencing the programme.
At no stage has any of the Departments consultants, the contractor carrying out the works or indeed, Wicklow Fire Service itself suggested that the building is anything other than safe to continue in operation as a functioning school.
It is envisaged that the works at the school will be fully completed over the remainder of the current school year including the summer holiday period.
225. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an extra year on the ECCE scheme will be awarded to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12198/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.
Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are provided to assist recognised schools to cater for pupils with disabilities, who have additional and significant care needs, in an educational context and where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in medical and other professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require additional adult assistance in order to be able to attend school and to participate in education.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie , in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed. The Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.
The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parent of the child and the Board of Management of a school. However, parents who may need advice or assistance in transitioning their child to primary school, or are experiencing difficulties in securing a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
My Department does not provide funding to pre-school services other than to early intervention classes in recognised primary schools or special schools. Supports for childcare, including pre-school education, are provided by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
The principal vehicle for the delivery of pre-school education is the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme which provides early childhood care and education for children of pre-school age.
Since ECCE was first introduced, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has worked to improve the pre-school experience for children with disabilities and to optimise their early development.
The two main enhancements are:
- ECCE entitlement currently averages at 61 weeks, up from 38 weeks, and it will expand further to 76 weeks from September 2018. This is in keeping with good international practice.
- The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) has been introduced with 7 different levels of support for children with disabilities. Over 4,000 children have so far benefited from targeted supports and many multiples of this from universal supports available under AIM.
Details of the supports which are available under AIM can be found at www.preschoolaccess.ie which contains comprehensive information on the access and inclusion model and on how to apply for the new schemes and supports.
I would like to advise the Deputy that queries in relation to the operation of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme should be addressed the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
227. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad chuige nach bhfuil ach luas íoslódála 2 Mheigighiotán sa soicind (Mbps) ar fáil i scoil i gContae Dhún na nGall (sonraí tugtha); an iarrfaidh sé ar oifigigh na Roinne an cás seo a chíoradh agus dul i dteagmháil leis an scoil d’fhonn teacht ar réiteach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [12206/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFaoin gClár um Rochtain ar Leathanbhanda do Scoileanna déanann an Roinn soláthar do nascacht idirlín a thabhairt do gach bunscoil agus iarbhunscoil aitheanta. Tá timpeall ar 98% (nócha-hocht faoin gcéad) de scoileanna san áireamh sa scéim seo. Tá gach iarbhunscoil agus roinnt scoileanna speisialta san áireamh sa chlár 100 Mbps faoin am seo.
Tá feabhas mór tagtha ar an scéal le blianta beaga anuas. Tá méadú tagtha ar líon na mbunscoileanna ag a bhfuil luas leathanbhanda níos airde na 30mbs, ó níos lú ná 100 scoil in 2012 go breis is 1000 scoil faoi dheireadh 2017. Maidir le Dún na nGall, sa bhliain 2012 ní raibh rochtain ag bunscoil ar bith ar luas leathanbhanda 30mbs nó níos mó. Faoin am seo tá luas leathanbhanda 30mbs nó níos mó ag tuairim is 34 scoil i nDún na nGall.
Is é beartas mo Roinne an cháilíocht nascachta is fearr a thairiscint do gach scoil de réir na réiteach teicniúil atá ar fáil ar an margadh agus faoi na srianta airgeadais. Tá an acmhainn leathanbhanda ag athrú de réir suímh gheografaigh agus de réir bonneagair áitiúil. Mar sin is féidir leis dul i bhfeidhm ar an tseirbhís is féidir a chur ar fáil.
Aithnítear sa Straitéis Dhigiteach do Scoileanna 2015-2020 go bhfuil gá le feabhas a chur ar nascacht leathanbhanda chuig bunscoileanna, agus mar a dúradh, tá rochtain ar leathanbhanda ardluais ar cheann de na táscairí atá aitheanta sa Phlean Gnímh don Straitéis Dhigiteach. Bunaíodh grúpa oibre idir-Rannach chun a oibriú amach conas is fearr is féidir tabhairt faoi nascacht leathanbhanda chuig bunscoileanna i gcomhar leis an Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaíocht Aeráide agus Comhshaoil i gcomhthéacs an Phlean Leathanbhanda Náisiúnta agus an Straitéis Idirghabhála agus soláthar tionscail beartaithe.
I gcás na scoile a ndearna an Teachta Dála tagairt di, tá an scoil ar nascacht leathanbhanda 3 Mbp/s na Chéad Ghlúine Eile faoi láthair. Beidh an scoil san áireamh sa chéad mhionchomórtas eile a reáchtálfaidh mo Roinn sna seachtainí seo chugainn. Is é seo an córas trínar féidir scoileanna a uasghrádú go seirbhísí níos fearr in áiteanna ina bhfuil seirbhísí níos fearr ar fáil ónár soláthraithe leathanbhanda.
228. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the nature of his Department's relationship with an event (details supplied); if it makes a financial contribution to the event; if his Department will consider a similar relationship with other events which have a similar educational value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12217/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is a significant scientific event for students in Ireland and plays an important role in promoting the take-up of science subjects and in promoting the STEM agenda. My Department's support of the event is consistent with its policy to promote science and technology in schools, as most recently set in the Department’s STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026 and Implementation Plan 2017-2019 which were launched last November. The event is operated by a charitable company on which my Department has a Board representative. The company raises funding for the Exhibition from a number of sources, including the currently main sponsor, BT, and from my Department. Annual financial support of €400,000 is provided by my Department towards the cost of staging the Exhibition. Exchequer support for events such as this is subject to the availability of funding in the context of the annual budgetary process.
My Department seeks to provide support to other educational programmes and initiatives, again subject to funding availability and potential alternative sources of funding. All such applications are assessed and considered on their individual merits.
229. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will overturn the decision relating to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12270/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the appeal process and application form are available in Circular 0010/2018, "Staffing Arrangements in Primary Schools for the 2018/19 School Year", which is published on the Department website.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its March meeting under the Additional Enrolments in October 2017 criteria. The Appeals Board considered the appeal and determined that it did not satisfy all the published criteria as set out in Circular 0010/2018.
The school has been notified of the outcome of the appeal. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
230. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will have a place in a secondary school which caters for their special needs in September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12271/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, including special schools in your area, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.
It is my Department's policy that children with special educational needs should be included where possible and appropriate in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational needs require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are provided for.
The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. Parents are advised to seek to enrol their child, by applying in writing, to their school/s of their choice as early as possible.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish its enrolment policy.
Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to either the relevant Educational Training Board or to the Secretary General of this Department.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent statutory body whose functions include planning and coordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need.
The NCSE’s SENO responsibility includes planning and coordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, including supporting children and parents in identifying school placement options and resource needs. Each SENO works in an assigned local area with parents, schools, teachers, psychologists, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in that area for children with special educational needs.
In dealing with parents of children with special educational needs, SENOs support children and their parents in identifying school placement options and resource needs; keeping parents informed of what resourcing decisions are being made on their child’s behalf. The SENO will also discuss any concerns that parents have about the present or future educational needs of their child. SENO contact details are available at: http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
231. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when changes affecting the amount of substitution work a teacher can complete while serving a career break will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12277/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to issues raised in relation to teacher supply, my Department issued notification to School Managerial Authorities on 26 January 2018, that it was suspending the restrictions that applied to the employment of teachers in a substitute capacity whilst on Career Break, with immediate effect, for the remainder of the current school year.
Prior to this decision the limits for substitute teaching as set out in Chapter Eight of the “Terms & Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools” were 90 days in Primary Schools and 300 hours in Post Primary Schools.
The notification also reminded employers that “in considering applications for Career Breaks, the welfare and educational needs of the pupils shall take precedence over all other considerations and accordingly, must take account of the availability of appropriate qualified replacement teachers”.
232. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when building work will commence on a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Limerick.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12288/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
The project has been tendered and the ETB recently submitted the Tender Report. This Report is currently being evaluated by my Department's professional and technical staff. Once the Tender Report has been evaluated, and assuming that there are no issues with it, the project will be approved to proceed to tender and construction.
233. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an extension to a college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12289/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the local Education and Training Board (ETB) for delivery.
The contractor for the project has entered Examinership and was not prepared to complete the works. Consequently, the ETB terminated the contract. Arrangements are currently being made to draw up a scope of works for tenders to finish out the contract.
234. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rules and guidelines for school boards of management and parents associations in relation to a matter (details supplied) when the facility deals with primary pupils with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12311/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agreed procedures for the appointment of boards of management of primary schools, including special schools and the rules under which these boards operate are set out in my Department's publication "Governance Manual For Primary Schools 2015 – 2019".
Section 19 of the manual, which is published on my Department's website, details the rules and procedures that apply to school finances.
The manual also provides that boards of management of primary schools are appointed for a four year term. The current boards of management of primary schools were formed in December 2015 and are next due to change in December 2019.
Section 26 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for the parents of students of a recognised school to establish, and maintain a parents association for that school and membership of that association shall be open to all parents of students of that school. Each parent association shall, following consultation with its members, make rules governing its meetings and the business and conduct of its affairs. Where a Parents’ Association is affiliated to a national association of parents, the rules shall be in accordance with guidelines issued by the national association of parents.
The National Parents Council Primary has developed guidelines, for any parent association affiliated to their national body including guidelines on the term of office of an association and finances which are available at www.ncp.ie.
235. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) had its application turned down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools.
Special classes offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day. Special classes are for students who have a recommendation for a special class placement in their professional reports.
Schools may apply to the NCSE to open a special class where a need has been identified in their area i.e. a number of students have professional reports indicating they require the support of a special class.
The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.
In addition, the NCSE will consider:
- the school’s accommodation and accessibility
- the number of special classes, if any, already in the school.
The NCSE has informed my Department that they have sanctioned a number of new ASD Special Classes in Co. Clare. While it is not always possible to ensure that a special class placement will be available in the child’s local school, the NCSE are satisfied that there will be sufficient ASD special class placements for students in Co. Clare in the forthcoming school year.
Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement, including special class placement, should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
The NCSE has not currently identified the need to establish an additional ASD special classes in the area referred to by the Deputy.
However, this process is ongoing, and should the NCSE identify the requirement for additional special class placements in the area it will contact schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class.
My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.
236. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of parents regarding the safety implications of the outstanding work to remove derelict prefabricated buildings from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12327/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the Department is committed to removing the prefabs from the site in question. In that context, the relevant ETB has agreed to manage this project. In that regard, once the scope of works required is finalised, the matter will be expedited.
237. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an application for accommodation for a school (details supplied) will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12349/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for capital funding for the provision of additional accommodation. My Department is currently considering the application and will convey a decision to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
238. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a request for four classrooms and two science laboratories for a school (details supplied) will be allowed; if all costings have been submitted for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12359/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, my Department recently approved the provision of permanent mainstream classroom accommodation at the school to which he refers, to replace prefabricated accommodation in poor condition.
The school subsequently submitted options to my Department to deliver additional specialist accommodation together with the replacement classroom accommodation previously approved. The school's proposal was considered, however, it was determined by my Department that there was no deficit of specialist accommodation and the school was advised accordingly.
Following further communication for the school regarding their accommodation needs for special education needs, my Department has requested an Inspector to visit the school and to prepare a report in that regard.
